Of 100 patients on the Rehabilitation Service of a general hospital (New England Memorial), 75 were past 65 years of age. In this age group, recovery from illness or an accident is longer and slower, with many more complications. Rehabilitation that accomplishes independence in daily‐living skills is extremely important for the elderly and those who care for them. Of the 75 elderly in this study, 40 could be discharged to their own homes; 36 had to be transferred to extended care facilities chiefly because of complications secondary to associated disorders. Even the patients who did not attain the conference‐determined rehabilitation goal still benefited from the coordinated rehabilitation procedure. The value of rehabilitation services for the disabled elderly should not be minimized.